News

Council pledges an extra £50,000 for flood victims

IN the aftermath of the floods last week Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) has pledged an extra £50,000 for immediate support to people affected.

The proposal was added to an agenda item on the council’s medium term financial strategy this last week by council leader, Councillor Mark Hawthorne, and unanimously supported by the Cabinet.

This follows a recent pledge to allocate just over £1million to the six district councils for flood alleviation works in their areas.

Coun Hawthorne said: “Much of what we’ve seen over the last few days could have been a lot worse had we not invested since 2007.

“Unfortunately around 50 properties in the county have flooded in the last few days, but the Environment Agency estimate this could have been 500 properties without the investment in flood alleviation.

“GCC wants to continue taking a lead in protecting people’s homes from flooding. This is reinforcing our ongoing commitment to flood alleviation and supporting flood victims since 2007.”

Gloucestershire County Council has spent about £20m on flood alleviation works since 2007 and is set to invest £250,200 for works including a flood relief culvert and ditch improvements in Moreton and the works on the Westington Mill bund and bathing area in Chipping Campden.